Where do elephant ear plants grow best?

Elephant Ears perform best in sun or part shade. While most can be grown in partial shade, the darker colored varieties are best grown in full sun. Provide a sheltered location to protect the decorative leaves from strong winds.

Can I put my elephant ear plant outside?

In warm, frost-free climates (zones 9-11), elephant ears can be grown outdoors year-round. In cooler areas (zones 3-8) they are usually grown as annuals. When planted in spring, they become big, impressive plants within just a few months, so be sure to give them plenty of room.

Where should elephant ears be sun or shade?

Growing elephant ear plants is easy. Most of these plants prefer rich, moist soil and can be grown in full sun, but they generally prefer partial shade. The tubers can be placed directly outdoors once the threat of frost or freezing temperatures have ceased in your area.

Are elephant ears heavy feeders?

Elephant ears are heavy feeders; use a water-soluble balanced fertilizer (we like Jack’s Classic 20-20-20) every 2 weeks throughout the summer. Elephant ears may be planted in large pots, and the pots may be brought inside for the winter and treated as houseplants.

Can Elephant Ears grow in pots?

If you decide you don’t want to plant your elephant ear plants in the ground, container growing is perfectly acceptable for these plants. Elephant ears do well in containers so long as you provide them with the right sized container, proper soil, and adequate sunlight.

Do Elephant Ears come back?

Are elephant ear plants perennials? Most are perennials in Zone 9 and warmer, where they will come back each summer. If gardening in cooler zones, you can treat them as annuals or dig up the tubers before the first frost and keep them in a cool, dry place over winter.

How cold can elephant ears tolerate?

Growing Tips Elephant ears are great for adding a tropical feel to your garden. They may be planted in large containers. Elephant ear foliage adds drama to large flower arrangements. Plants cannot tolerate temperatures below 50 degrees.

Do elephant ears bloom flowers?

Although elephant ears are grown primarily as foliage plants, they can bloom – but flowers are not common in the Midwest. The inflorescences are the typical aroid type with a white to yellow or light green spathe surrounding the spadix.

Do elephant ears need big pots?

Colocasia species typically need pots that are at least 18 inches wide and 16 inches deep. Alocasia cultivars need pots that are at least 36 inches wide. If you want to use a smaller pot so that you can gradually size up, pick a container that is at least two inches larger than the pot at the garden nursery.

How to grow elephant ears in soil?

The ideal soil pH for growing elephant ears is between 5.5 and 7.0. Do a soil test before planting. If the soil pH is not in that range you can add various additives to bring the pH to that level. The need for sunlight in Elephant Ears varies from full sun to partial shade. Most of the varieties are grown in partial shade.

When to plant elephant ear bulbs indoors?

Planting elephant ear bulbs indoors approximately eight weeks prior to the last frost date is also acceptable. If growing in pots use a rich, organic potting soil and plant them at the same depth.

How tall do elephant ear bulbs grow?

This article has been viewed 1,393,938 times. The Elephant Ear (Colocasia) is a tropical plant that grows up to 9 feet (2.7 m) tall and sprouts large, arrow-shaped leaves that resemble the ears on an elephant. To grow these stunning plants, plant the bulbs in the early spring with the right soil conditions.

How much sun do elephant ears need?

Most prefer filtered sun or shade, but some tolerate full sun. In general, green types can take higher light levels; darker-leaved ones need more filtered light or shade. Elephant ears need rich soil that is moist (not saturated), but well-drained.